North Island College (NIC) is honoured to acknowledge the traditional territories of the combined 35 First Nations of the Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka’wakw and Coast Salish traditions, on whose traditional and unceded territories the college’s campuses are situated.
North Island College is a comprehensive community college that focuses on student success. We proudly serve more than 9,000 students annually at our four campuses, our learning centre and through online and in-community learning.
North Island College (NIC) North Island College (NIC), is a community college located primarily on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Starting as a distance educational institution in the 1970’s, NIC has grown to a comprehensive post-secondary institution with a range of academic and career-training programs from one-year certificates to four-year degrees and post-graduate studies.
Established in 1975, North Island College’s mandate was to provide post-secondary education to 157,000 people spread across 80,000 km2 on Vancouver Island.
In the 1970s, Dr. Dennis Wing and a handful of college administrators created BC’s first open college, hiring tutors to guide students through open learning courses in converted school buses, an ex-whaling boat— the Samarinda, and 24 learning centres across the region. Without Internet, satellite, or large-scale computer networks, students had opportunities to learn new skills and complete university degrees. NIC instructors, Dr. Michael Catchpole, Roger Albert, and others took to the airwaves delivering psychology and sociology courses to all of BC on the Knowledge Network while tutors such as Nigel and Adele Bailey drove the bumpy road to Woss Lake to tutor loggers and their families.
In the 1990s, Dr. Neil Murphy and a small team of administrators developed infrastructure as NIC’s larger communities demanded local campuses and trades workshops. In 1990, the process of building physical campuses to serve the regions began. The Comox Valley campus on Ryan Road opened in 1992, followed by the Port Alberni campus in 1995, and the Campbell River campus in 1997. Fine arts, health, and trades programs were established to meet local demand, the first student association was formed, faculty and staff organized unions and full-time enrolment grew exponentially.
In the 2000’s, Dr. Lou Dryden was tasked with strengthening NIC’s financial stability and forging new partnerships. Dryden established NIC’s first regional Indigenous advisory councils in consultation with 35 First Nations, allowing communities to identify their own program priorities, from bookkeeping and aquaculture to early childhood education. In 2019, Dryden’s contribution to NIC was recognized with the naming of the Dr. Lou Dryden Trades Training Atrium at NIC’s Comox Valley Campus’ Trades Training Centre.
In 2009, Dr. Jan Lindsay arrived. NIC’s international enrolment grew rapidly, creating new programs and degree pathways for students world-wide and opening doors for domestic students to travel abroad while earning NIC credentials. Under her leadership, the college created new university partnerships and developed research facilities. John Bowman became NIC’s President in 2013. Through his tenure, NIC focused on further expanding the College’s facilities to increase the number of programs it could offer and the number of students it could serve. Of particular note are the $18-million expansion and renovation of NIC’s Campbell River campus, the signing of the agreement to make use of the former St. Joseph’s Hospital site for health and human services programs and the renaming of the Mixalakwila campus in Port Hardy.
The College is currently led by Dr. Lisa Domae, who became President & CEO on April 12, 2021.
North Island College is committed to meeting the education and training needs of adults within our service region by providing high quality, affordable higher education and skills training, collaborating with our partners to create pathways to learning, and empowering individuals to achieve their full potential. Student success, access to learning and services, accountability, quality, relevance and responsiveness, a positive organizational culture, and social and environmental responsibility frame our commitment to our students and communities.
Board of Governors
Meet the board, learn about their work, bylaws, policies, meetings and committees
Build 2026
Visit the Engage site to learn more about NIC's Strategic Plan
Working Together
Learn more about NIC's Indigenization Plan
Indigenous Education Council
Ensuring that NIC works with Indigenous people in culturally appropriate ways
President's Office
Working with senior leadership, students and communities to serve our region
Leadership Team
Meet the team responsible for executive decisions at NIC
Operations Team
Meet the team that identifies operational needs, opportunities and direction of the college
Education Team
Meet the team that provides educational direction and instructional program planning at the college
Education Council
Learn about the council that ensures educational quality at NIC
Academic Quality Enhancement
Learn about academic quality enhancement at NIC
Partnership Agreements
Transfer seamlessly from NIC to UVic, VIU, UBC and universities around the world
Policies & Procedures
The rules that guide present and future initiatives at NIC
Reporting
Our commitment to operate with cost consciousness, integrity and accountability
